Helicopter Simulator 2014: Search and Rescue

About

"Helicopter Simulator 2014: Search and Rescue" puts you in the role of an emergency pilot, tasked with completing over 45 challenging missions including fighting fires and conducting rescues. The game features 10 helicopters with varying abilities and over 400km2 of terrain to explore. With changing weather conditions and well-balanced flight controls, this simulator offers a realistic and immersive experience. The 2014 edition includes a sightseeing mode and updated graphics for even greater visual quality.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Helicopter Simulator 2014: Search and Rescue screenshot

30%

Audience ScoreBased on 164 reviews

humor5 positive mentions

graphics12 negative mentions

Some players find the game enjoyable and fun, especially for those who appreciate casual helicopter gameplay.
The game offers a variety of missions and helicopters, providing a sense of exploration and task completion.
For its price, some users feel it can be a decent entry-level helicopter game, especially during sales.

The game is plagued by technical issues, including frequent crashes and failure to launch on modern systems.
Controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to fly the helicopters effectively.
Graphics are outdated and do not meet the standards expected for a game released in 2014, contributing to a poor overall experience.

story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
88%
6%
The game's story revolves around a series of repetitive helicopter missions, primarily focused on search and rescue operations, which many players found to be lacking in depth and variety. While some appreciated the imaginative objectives, the overall mission design was criticized for being poorly planned and frustrating, with frequent crashes and technical issues hindering gameplay. Despite its potential for fun, the narrative experience is marred by a lack of engaging content and a sense of monotony.
- “The missions and objectives are imaginative and exciting.”
- “It is for those players who want to play the exciting helicopter missions, who like to carry out support orders and a challenge in solving complex and tricky requirements with the atmosphere and the thrill of a helicopter.”
- “Where in SimCopter you flew around in a city and things happened which you had to clear, in this game you can fly around on different island maps and things only happen when you start a mission with a specific objective.”
- “Although there are a variety of missions, they are all basically the same.”
- “But mission design shows a lack of careful planning.”
- “In the first mission I played, it had strange requirements that made no sense.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
58%
33%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated and below the standards expected for a 2014 release. While some players find them acceptable for the game's price point, others criticize the poor quality and simplistic design, likening them to games from the early 2000s. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not detract significantly from gameplay for some, they are a major drawback for those seeking a visually appealing experience.
- “Good graphics for 2014, also great voice acting.”
- “The graphics quality is not comparable to modern expensive high-end games, but for the pure helicopter jobs, it is sufficient.”
- “Graphic junkies might be a little bit disappointed, but for everyone else, the graphics are absolutely appropriate.”
- “Poor graphics should've been deleted from Steam.”
- “The graphics are almost horrendous to begin with.”
- “The graphics are so far from 2014 standards it's not even funny.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users criticizing its poor controls, outdated mechanics, and lackluster graphics. Many describe it as a disappointing experience, likening it to a subpar imitation of other simulation games, and suggest potential buyers should watch gameplay videos before purchasing. Overall, the gameplay is considered basic and unengaging compared to other titles from the same developer.
- “In my opinion, they do not inhibit gameplay at all.”
- “As for gameplay, it's actually fun.”
- “I suggest that anyone before buying should watch a gameplay video of it first.”
- “This wasn't even a good game when it worked... it looks like a flight sim but it's not, it's much worse... it's like a bad ripoff of Farming Simulator 2013 except with poorly executed helicopter mechanics.”
- “Terrible controls, bad graphics, and boring gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and really feels quite dated.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game has been widely criticized for being grating and mismatched with the visuals, often described as reminiscent of a warzone due to its frequent brass crescendos. Players have noted the limited variety, with only a couple of songs and repetitive sound effects, leading many to turn the music off entirely for a better experience.
- “The music and sound design create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The soundtrack is catchy and fits perfectly with the game's theme, making each moment feel more engaging.”
- “The variety of music tracks keeps the gameplay fresh and adds an exciting layer to the adventure.”
- “Omg, the music is grating and annoying; frequent use of brass crescendos gives the impression of flying in a warzone.”
- “The only annoying thing for me is the music, as it didn't match the picture I get when I was flying over the woods or the coastline, so I switched it off completely.”
- “The only sounds in this game are the same soundtrack, a 60-second loop of 'radio chatter', and engine sounds that are the same for all helicopter models.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its absurdly difficult controls and the serious tone of its presentation, which contrasts sharply with its broken mechanics and outdated graphics. Players find the game's failures and mishaps amusing, making it a source of unintentional comedy, especially for those seeking a lighthearted arcade experience.
- “But it is still a funny arcade for those who are not experts in helicopters.”
- “I find it hilarious how serious the developer was when naming this game, even though it fails miserably as an arcade game.”
- “Most of the 'disasters' in this game are hilarious!”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Users report significant performance drops near buildings and during weather effects, indicating a lack of optimization. Some have attempted to improve performance by adjusting settings in the AMD Catalyst app, but these efforts have not yielded satisfactory results. Overall, the game is perceived as poorly optimized.
- “My best guess is that it may have something to do with either the fact that it's installed on the C drive or that I had to manually assign high performance mode to the AMD Catalyst app, or both. But I'm sure I did that before and it didn't work.”
- “[*] Set AMD Catalyst driver app to use high performance mode.”
- “Performance drops in the vicinity of buildings and/or when weather effects are on.”
- “It didn't run all that well either, and didn't feel at all optimized.”
- “My best guess is that it may have something to do with either the fact that it's installed to C drive or that I had to manually assign high performance mode to the AMD Catalyst app, or both, but I'm sure I did that before and it didn't work.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with no significant bugs or crashes, although one user experienced a freezing issue when attempting to access the hangar. It may be too early to fully assess stability, as further updates could reveal more information.
- “I click on go to hangar and it freezes.”
- “I haven't seen any bugs, glitches, or crashes yet, but maybe it's too early to tell. I will update if there are any changes.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by the inclusion of communication chatter, immersing players in the excitement of piloting helicopter missions. It appeals to those seeking thrilling challenges without the need for extensive technical knowledge, allowing for an engaging experience in support operations.
- “It is for those players who want to experience exciting helicopter missions, enjoy carrying out support orders, and face the challenge of solving complex and tricky requirements, all while immersing themselves in the thrilling atmosphere of helicopter flight.”
- “The inclusion of comm chatter adds to the atmosphere of piloting.”
- “It is for those players who want to play the exciting helicopter missions, who enjoy carrying out support orders and tackling complex and tricky requirements, but do not want to invest their playing time in complicated technical manuals and controls.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is poorly executed, with players comparing it unfavorably to other simulation games like Farming Simulator 2013. The mechanics are described as frustrating and lacking polish, contributing to an overall negative experience.
- “The grinding in this game is unbearable; it feels like I'm just doing the same mindless tasks over and over without any real progress.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to find out that the rewards are minimal and not worth the effort.”
- “The repetitive nature of the grinding makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”